Moving to the Bay Area
Silicon Valley home prices and transit, city by city
Relocating to Silicon Valley for work, or moving within the Bay Area? Start with three questions: what you can spend, how you will get to work, and whether you want a house, a townhome, or a condo. The table below answers the first two for all 23 cities Sean Rossiter works in.
Prices and transit by city
July to September 2026. Updated monthly.
| City | County | Single-family median | Condo median | Caltrain station | VTA light rail |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Palo Alto | San Mateo | $1,002,101 | $657,432 | No | No |
| San Jose | Santa Clara | $1,620,854 | $634,935 | Yes | Yes |
| Santa Clara | Santa Clara | $1,849,263 | $599,938 | Yes | Yes |
| Campbell | Santa Clara | $1,999,203 | $759,922 | No | Yes |
| San Mateo | San Mateo | $2,049,183 | $760,172 | Yes | No |
| Foster City | San Mateo | $2,184,129 | $1,068,890 | No | No |
| Redwood City | San Mateo | $2,354,062 | $1,099,887 | Yes | No |
| Belmont | San Mateo | $2,424,034 | $974,900 | Yes | No |
| Redwood Shores | San Mateo | $2,489,372 | $987,471 | No | No |
| San Carlos | San Mateo | $2,599,963 | $999,897 | Yes | No |
| Sunnyvale | Santa Clara | $2,603,962 | $769,921 | Yes | Yes |
| Los Gatos | Santa Clara | $2,873,854 | $599,938 | No | No |
| Mountain View | Santa Clara | $2,924,834 | $754,922 | Yes | Yes |
| Cupertino | Santa Clara | $3,018,797 | $1,173,629 | No | No |
| Menlo Park | San Mateo | $4,106,363 | $1,096,887 | Yes | No |
| Palo Alto | Santa Clara | $4,198,326 | $1,396,082 | Yes | No |
| Monte Sereno | Santa Clara | $4,198,326 | n/a | No | No |
| Saratoga | Santa Clara | $4,298,286 | $1,052,892 | No | No |
| Woodside | San Mateo | $4,623,157 | n/a | No | No |
| Los Altos | Santa Clara | $4,906,044 | $1,549,841 | No | No |
| Portola Valley | San Mateo | $6,112,563 | n/a | No | No |
| Los Altos Hills | Santa Clara | $6,747,310 | n/a | No | No |
| Atherton | San Mateo | $11,995,218 | n/a | No | No |
Prices: Redfin Data Center, rolling three-month medians, July to September 2026. Sorted by single-family median. n/a means too few sales to report. Transit: Caltrain stations and VTA. Redwood Shores uses ZIP code 94065.
Costs to plan for
- Property tax of about 1.1% to 1.3% of the price each year. See property tax when you buy.
- Many homes sell above the list price. Each city page shows how many.
- A condo or townhome costs far less than a house in most cities. See condo vs. townhouse in San Jose.
- Buying from a seller who is not a US tax resident? See FIRPTA.
- New or remodeled homes need extra checks. See buying a new or remodeled home.
Getting around
- Caltrain runs along the Peninsula from San Francisco to San Jose, with stops in 10 of these cities.
- VTA light rail connects Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, San Jose, and Campbell.
- Highways 101 and 280 run the length of the Peninsula. Highway 85 links Mountain View with Cupertino, Saratoga, Los Gatos, and south San Jose.
FAQs
What does a house cost in Silicon Valley?
It depends on the city. From July to September 2026, the single-family median ran from $1,002,101 in East Palo Alto to $11,995,218 in Atherton. The table on this page lists all 23 cities and updates monthly.
What is the least expensive way to buy?
Condos and townhomes. From July to September 2026, the condo median started at $599,938 in Los Gatos. See the condo vs. townhouse comparison for the trade-offs.
Which cities have a Caltrain station?
San Mateo, Belmont, San Carlos, Redwood City, Menlo Park, Palo Alto, Mountain View, Sunnyvale, Santa Clara, and San Jose. Caltrain runs along the Peninsula between San Francisco and San Jose.
What will my property tax be?
About 1% of the purchase price under Prop 13, plus local bonds and fees. In Peninsula and South Bay cities the total is often about 1.1% to 1.3% of the price. The parcel's tax bill shows the exact rate.
Planning a move?
Tell Sean where you will work, your budget, and your timing. He will suggest cities to tour and send recent sales.